Shy Cat and the Stuff-the-Bus Challenge
Introducing best friends Mila and Kit in a graphic novel about stray cats, school food drives, and hungry kids
"This is the story of everything that happened after my friend Kit had a meltdown at school.”
Best friends Mila and Kit spend their days doing fun things: they go to the skate park, play Truth or Dare, and pet the neighborhood cats. Mila’s favorite thing to do is draw her Shy Cat comics. But Kit’s is probably eating afternoon snacks. The first time Kit went to Mila’s house, he ate three bananas in a row without asking! Mila thinks rude is rude, but her mom says that sometimes, rude is just hungry.
When Kit has a meltdown at school over a “best before” date, a bag of apples, and a dented can—Mila realizes there’s something important she might have missed about her friend. And it all starts with their school’s Stuff-the-Bus food drive challenge.
Praise & Recognition
"In Shy Cat and the Stuff-the-Bus Challenge, Dian Day and Amanda White invite readers to think about what it means to not have enough nutritious food to eat. Narrated by Mila, this story explores friendship, different life situations, and food insecurity. Through Mila's comic strips, readers get a glimpse into this budding artist's mind as she tries to understand why her friend Kit's family is food insecure while her own is not. While searching for answers to her many questions, Mila notices a neighbourhood stray cat that also doesn’t have enough to eat. This graphic novel, with its fun illustrations and well-paced story, will be an excellent conversation and question starter for middle graders learning about food security."
Rowena Rae, the co-author of the "Meg & Greg" seriesDetails
Publication Date: March 3, 2026
Reading Age: 9 - 12
Genre: Children's Fiction
Product Format: Paperback
Pages: 208
ISBN: 978-1-77260-445-0
Weight: 200
About the Author
Dian Day
Dian Day is an award-winning writer, with two novels for adults, The Clock of Heaven and The Madrigal. She is a member of the Hungry Stories Team, a cross-Canada collaboration of food scholars and activists. She and her partner live in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
About the Illustrator
Amanda White
Amanda White is a multi-disciplinary artist who writes, teaches, and makes art about environment, sustainability, and climate. She is a member of the Hungry Stories Team. Originally from Toronto, she now lives in Vancouver with her family, where she is assistant professor at Emily Carr University of Art and Design.
